‘I watched my own sex video online’: How hidden cameras in Chinese hotels fuel a massive spy

A report has uncovered a sprawling underground network in China that secretly films hotel guests through hidden cameras and sells the footage as pornography, exposing thousands of unsuspecting people to severe violations of privacy.

The issue came into focus after “Eric” (name changed), a man from Hong Kong, discovered that a pornographic video he was watching online featured himself and his girlfriend.

According to the BBC, the couple had stayed at a hotel in Shenzhen in 2023, unaware that a hidden camera in their room had recorded their most intimate moments. The footage was later uploaded to Telegram, a messaging platform frequently used to distribute illicit content.

Eric told the BBC he had previously consumed so-called “spy-cam porn” because of its “raw” nature, admitting that “what drew me in is the fact that the people don’t know they’re being filmed.” However, becoming a victim himself completely changed his perspective. When his girlfriend Emily realised the video was online, she was “mortified” and feared colleagues or family might recognise her. The couple reportedly stopped speaking for weeks due to the trauma.

Spy-cam pornography has existed in China for over a decade, despite strict laws banning both pornography and the use of covert surveillance devices. In recent years, public concern has intensified, particularly among women, with social media users sharing tips on detecting hidden cameras. Some travellers have even resorted to pitching tents inside hotel rooms to avoid being filmed.

In April last year, Chinese authorities introduced new regulations requiring hotels to regularly inspect rooms for hidden cameras. However, the BBC investigation found the problem remains widespread.

Over an 18-month investigation, thousands of recent spy-cam videos were filmed in hotel rooms and sold online. Much of the content is promoted through Telegram, which is officially banned in China but widely accessible via virtual private networks. At least six websites and apps advertising livestreams from more than 180 hotel rooms, allowing paying subscribers to watch guests in real time, says report.

One such operator, using the alias “AKA”, charged subscribers 450 yuan ($65) per month for access to live feeds from multiple hotel rooms. According to the BBC, these livestreams activated automatically when guests inserted their room key cards. Archived footage could also be downloaded.

The report monitored one platform for seven months and found footage from 54 different cameras, with around half active at any given time. Based on average hotel occupancy rates, the broadcaster estimates that thousands of guests may have been secretly filmed during that period alone.

Viewers frequently commented on Telegram while watching the livestreams, often making degrading remarks about women and celebrating when couples engaged in sex. When one hidden camera was discovered and disabled in a hotel room in Zhengzhou, subscribers openly mourned its loss. “It’s such a shame; that room has the best sound quality,” AKA reportedly wrote, before announcing that a replacement camera had gone live within hours.

The investigation revealed a structured supply chain involving sales agents and so-called “camera owners” who arrange installations and manage streaming platforms. Despite being presented with evidence, those involved did not respond publicly. Some Telegram accounts were later deleted, but the livestreaming websites remain active.

The BBC estimates that AKA alone earned at least 163,200 yuan ($22,000) in subscription fees since April last year — nearly four times China’s average annual income.

Blue Li of Hong Kong-based NGO RainLily told the BBC that requests to remove non-consensual content are increasing, but platforms like Telegram rarely respond. “Tech companies share huge responsibility,” she said, adding that their policies directly affect how such content spreads.

Telegram said sharing non-consensual pornography violates its terms of service and claimed it proactively removes harmful content. However, victims like Eric and Emily continue to live in fear, avoiding hotels and worrying that the footage may resurface online.